Folks - When I owned a Coupe, I didn't join EOC, but I had nothing really against it. As an FBO owner, with a good shop, I depend on our own people to maintain my airplanes.
Type clubs come in about 3 basic varieties, which a permutation or two of each one. First, there are the clubs that cater to expensive airplanes, and airplanes the are very numerous. Such as American Bonanza Society, Mooney Aircraft Pilots Assoc., Cessna Pilots Assoc., etc. Except for ABS, many of these are proprietary clubs, meaning that they are really commercial endeavors owned by someone who earns a profit from running the club. The proprietary clubs have the fanciest magazines, the best seminars like ABS has its Bonanza Pilot Proficiency Program, which truly is a first class, re-current training program for Bonanzas and Barons. I belonged to ABS when I had a Bonanza. But remember that these are profit oriented businesses, and they need the fancy stuff to market themselves. Next, you have clubs like Short Wing Piper Club, and the International Comanche Society to both of which I belonged when I had a Pacer and a Comanche. They are volunteer run, not profit oriented, but still have a very nice publication in color, with reasonable dues. But, remember, their universe of potential members is quite large due to the large number of Short Wings - Pacers, Tripacers, Colts, Vagabonds in existence; and the large number of Comanches and Twin Comanches still flying. The next level comes down to clubs like EOC, International Cessna 170 Assoc. (to which I also belonged when we had a 170), International Cessna 120/140 Assoc., and all of the rest of the volunteer run clubs that cater to owners of airplanes that aren't all that numerous. The large clubs have lots of clout - they often have insurance deals with a club endorsed broker, and the fancy conventions. The basic problem with an Ercoupe club, be it EOC or some other, is the lack of a large potential membership base. There just aren't enough potential members, paying reasonable dues, to fund a fancy organization. We see the same issue with National Aeronca Assoc., as I currently have a Champ. Not enough people to fund it. Sorry to be so pessimistic, but if you want a first class club, you'll have to pay first class dues, and maybe even more, to pay for it. A few hundred, at the most, Ercoupers (figuring less than 1/2 of the owners will actually join a club) can't have what a few thousand Bonanza or even Short Wing Piper owners have unless you want the dues to dramatically increase. That's just the reality of things. Jerry E. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Scott Morgan Sent: Monday, December 31, 2007 8:06 AM To: ercoupe tech Subject: [ercoupe-tech] EOC participation I could not get this to go to Fly-in, so, please excuse on this site. We have read all the comments on the subject of whether the EOC is fulfilling everyone's needs. This is how we feel about it. One of the reasons why my wife and I enjoy the EOC as much as we do is because of the comraderie among the members who are able to attend the annual conventions. The friendships we have formed and the willingness to share information is more important to us than a fancy convention and a slick newsletter. As hosts of the 2007 convention we were especially pleased by the willingness of everyone to pitch in to take down tables when storm clouds were on the horizon, so that, planes could be moved under roof. Then to pitch in to set them up again. Others helped empty trash cans and assist anywhere needed. We feel that the maintenance seminars at the conventions are informative and valuable. Being just a couple of "bumpkins" from the Plains, we feel the present board of directors and the EOC management have done and are doing an excellent job and go out of their way to be helpful to the members. A person does not have to be a Wing Leader, a Director or an EOC Officer in order to host a convention or fly-in.. If you would like to have a fly-in, just do it. All it takes is a willingness to get your hands a little dirty and put in some time. I have read comments on this forum that the conventions are being held too far from some members homes to be attended. Simple solution... host it in your area! My wife and I hope to see everyone in Wisconsin in 2008! Let's not breakup the present EOC, let's just try to make it better so that it fulfiills everyone's needs. The 20 or 30 dollars dues is not that great....after all that only amounts to 4 to 6 gallons of 100LL. Scott and Jean Morgan Scott and Jean Morgan ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.
